Automatic valve for use within a funnel



April 1965 P. H. BAUMANN 3,176,728

AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR USE WITHIN A FUNNEL Filed Dec. 3, 1962 sSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

fly 2 April 6, 1965 P. H. BAUMANN 3,176,728

AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR USE WITHIN A FUNNEL Filed Dec. 5, 1962 I5Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 6, 1965 I I P. H. BAUMANN 3,176,723

AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR USE WITHIN A FUNNEL Filed Dec. 3; 1962 sSheets-Sheet a INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,176,728 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 3,176,728 AUTOMATICVALVE FGR USE WITl-HN A FUNNEL Poul H. Baumann, 2102 Tolman Road,Applewood Acres, Port Credit, Ontario, Canada Filed Dec. 3, 1962, Ser.No. 242,011

, 3 Claims. (Cl. 141-193) This invention relates to improvements incontainer filling equipment and more particularly to automatic valvesfor funnels, hose ends and the like utilized in filling bottles,outboard motor fuel tanks and the like.

It is conventional practice to utilize a funnel for filling fuel tankson outboard motors, powered lawnmowers and the like, the funnel beinglocated in the filling hole of such a tank whereafter fuel is pouredinto the funnel until the fuel tank is full. This necessitates greatcare on the part of the operator filling the fuel tank, in order topermit him to cease filling operation before the fuel tank fillsentirely and overflows, creating a fire hazard. Often the operator willnot become aware of the fuel tank being full until the fuel overflowsfrom the filling hole or, if the funnel is a tight fit in the hole,until the fuel mounts up in the funnel, remaining there until the funnelis removed at which time the fuel empties itself from the funnel overthefuel tankand engine, creating a fire hazard.

A similar procedure is often utilized infilling bottles, containers orthe like from barrels located thereover, such bottle or containers oftenbeing filled by means of funnels located therein or by means of a hoseattached to the barrel outlet, the free end of the hose beinglocated inthe, filling opening of the bottle or container. Such filling procedurerequires that an attendant is present to observe when the bottle orcontainer has become almost filled up, so that he may close the valve onthe barrel and transfer the hose or funnel to another bottle orcontainer as required. This procedure having the disadvantage thatfilling of such bottle or containers may not be left to itself butrequires constant attention to prevent overflow and spilling of fluidsbeing filledtherein.

It is an object of this invention to provide an automatic funnel andhosevalve for filling bottles, containers or the like, in the followingcalled automatic valve, for location in filling the opening of, suchcontainer, that automatically will interrupt the flow of liquidthereinto upon such container being filled to a level substantiallyclose to its full capacity. i

It is another object of this invention to provide an automatic valve ofextremely simple construction thatmay be inserted into a bottle orcontainer to a predetermined depth to automatically control the level towhich such bottle or container may be filled with fluid withoutrequiring supervision of any kind to prevent overfilling or spilling offluid. I

. It is .still a furtherobject of. this invention to provide anautomatic valve of the above art, incorporating automaticmanual controlmeans for biasing the automatic valve, after completion of fillingoperation, while located in the container, to a closed position, topermit extraction of the funnel or hose with the closed automatic valvefrom a filled bottle or container for transfer to an empty fluidcontents of funnel or hose.

It isfurther object of this invention to provide an autobottle orcontainer or the like without spillage of the matic valve incorporatingmanually controlled valve Opening means to manually open said valve uponlocation of the funnel orhose in anempty bottle or container,

to permit entry of contents of the funnelor hose thereinto. p

These and other objects and featuresof this invention will becomeapparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a funnel embodying the presentinvention, located in a fuel tank, showing a method of utilizing suchfunnel.

FIG. 2 is a mid-vertical, sectional view of the funnel shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the funnel shown in FIG. 2, taken on line3-3. 1 a

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the funnel shown in FIG. 2 taken online 44.

FIG. 5 is a mid-vertical, sectional view of the funnel illustrated inFIG. 2 showing the automatic. valve in a closed position in a fullcontainer, showing the adjustable fluid level control collar, and manualvalve opening means.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bottle being filled with fluid from abarrel utilizing a hose embodying one alternative form of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, mid-vertical sectional view of an alternatemethod of utilizing the present invention showing the valve in closedposition.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, mid-vertical sectional elevation of theautomatic valve illustrated in FIG. 7, showing the valve in openposition.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the automatic valve shown inFIG. 8 taken on the line 8-8 in vertical planes rotated degrees fromthat of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the valve shown in FIG. 9 taken onthe line 10-1tl.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional method of filling the fuel tank ofan outboard motor, power mower or the like is illustrated utilizing afunnel 11 incorporating the present invention, funnel 11 being locatedin filling hole 12 of fuel tank 13 in conventional manner, fuel 14 beingpoured into funnel 11 from fuel can 15 by operator 16 1 Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, funnel 11, containing an automatic valve embodying thisinvention, consists of a hinge 25 located in the upper surface of body21, at the,

lower end of acute angle surface 23. A curved connecting link 26 has oneend 27 rigidly attached substantially centrally of valve closure surface28, on valve cap 24 valve closure surface 28 being supplied with a thinresilient gasket 29 of material such as rubber or the like.

Link 26 passes unhindered through passage 22, lower end 30 of link 26curving back to a position below solid portion of body 21.

A buoyant float 31, freely moveable in vertical direction within tube159 is located below body 21, float 31 being of considerably smallerdiameter than internal diameter of tube 19, float 31 containing aplurality of knobs 32 along the upper and lower edge thereof, float 31with knobs 32 being freely slidable in a vertical direction within tube19. A hinge lug 33 extends upward of upper end 34 of float 31 towardsside 35 of tube 19 that is closest topassageway 20 and 22, a link means36 having one end pivotally attached throughjhole. 37 in end 30 of linkmeans 36, the other end of link means 36 being pivotally attachedthrough hole 33 of lug. 33. Hole 37 is located in such position in end30 that a straight line r 3 connecting hole 38 with pivot 25, alwayslies between passageway 22 and hole 37.

It will beseen that the weight of float 31, which is freely moveable invertical direction in tube 19, will through force of gravity, pull end30 of link 36 towards sides 35 of tube 19 thereby biasing valve cap 24away from valve seat surface 23, and opening passageway 22 to permitfluid to be passed from truncated portion 17 through passage 22 and tube19, past knobs 32 and float 31 to lower opening 39 of funnel 11.

Upon buoyant float 31 being biased upward by, for instance, the surfaceof fluid rising into tube 19, pressure a will be exerted in alongitudinal direction upwards through link means 36 to hole 37, therebybiasing end 30 of link 26 away from side 35 of tube 19, since hole 37lies outside a line connecting holes 38 and pivot 25, thereby forcingvalve cap 24 toward valve seat surface 23 and thereby closing offpassageway 22 against further influx of fluid poured into funnel 11.

Fluid will therefore fill up in truncated portion 17 of funnel 11,weight of this fluid bearing down on valve cap 24 and maintaining thisin closed position on valve seat surface 23 even after funnel 11 isremoved from the fluid surface that initially biased float 31 upward,the weight of float 31 being suiflciently small to permit'the weight offluid in the truncated portion 17 to maintain valve cap 24 in a closedposition until fluid is poured out of truncated portion 17 through spout40, whereby weight of float 31 again will force valve cap 24 to an openposition, the curvature of link 26 being such as to provide unhinderedmovement of link 26 in passageway 22 during opening or closing of valvecap 26.

At least one perforation 41 is located in tube 19 directly'below body 21to permit air to enter above float 31immediately upon funnel 11 beingremoved from the container into which fluid is being poured, to permitrapid emptying of fluid. from lower portion 42 of tube 19, locateddirectly belOW valve body 21, thereby permitting fluid in portion 42 tobe deposited in the container, instead of being spilled gradually asfunnel 11 is removed from the container.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, funnel 11 is shown located in a bottle42, the depth of insertion of tube 19 into bottle 42 being controlled byan axially adjustable, frictionally held, collar 43 which may consist ofa ring of material such as, for instance, rubber, frictionally locatedover tube 19, location of collar 43 determining the height to whichbottle 42 may be filled, tube 19 being inserted into neck 44 of bottle42 until collar 43 abuts on top of edge 45 of neck 44, the filling levelof bottle 42 with fluid 46 being determined by the level at which float31 is located in neck .44, float 31 floating on suurface 47 of fluid 48deposited in bottle 42. a I

Upon fluid surface 47 reaching a position where float 3 1 biasesvalvecap24 against valve seat surface 23, passage 22 becomes closedagainst further ingress of fluid 46 and the filling operation in bottle42 will cease. Fluid level 49 in funnel 11 will build up therein andwarn operator that bottle 42 now is full. Weight of fluid 46 in funnel11, resting on valve cap 24 will now maintain valve cap. 24 in closedposition While the operator removes V funnel 11 from bottle 42 andinserts funnel 11 into an- 7 hole 52 in collar 43, wire 50 ending in atab portion 53 being adapted to be manually depressed downward upon thevalve being required to be opened, thereby forcing float 31 downwardsand biasing valve cap 24 to open position, permitting fluid 46 toprogress through passage 22 into the empty bottle until this in turn hasbeen filled and actuates float 31 to close as above described.

Referring to FIG. 6 another utilization of the present invention isillustrated in conjunction with the filling hose from a drum, forinstance, an oil barrel, fuel barrel or the like, barrel 54 containingfluid, and being shown located in conventional manner above a bottle 55to be filled, conventional valve 56 having a hose 57 attached to theoutlet thereof, end of hose 57 being connected at 58 to hose valve 59embodying the present invention, lower portion 60 of hose valve 59having the same content consisting of valve body, valve cap, link, linkmeans and float as tube 19 of funnel shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, andmanual valve opening means 50 extending upwards through collar 43,ending in tab 53 as shown in FIG. 4

to start filling operation in an empty bottle.

It will be seen that the filling operator is not required to watchfilling up of the bottles 55 in order to close valve 59 upon suchfilling being completed. Flow of fluid automatically stops upon apredetermined level, set by location of axially adjustable collar 43,being reached. Operator, upon finding that filling of bottle 55 has beencompleted, is required only to remove valve 59 from the filled bottleand transfer hose valve 59 to another empty bottle or container withoutloss of fluid during such transfer, flow of fluid 61 into empty bottlebeing commenced by operator pressing tab 53 downwards to open valve cap24 and start fluid flowing into the empty bottle.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10, an alternate method of utilizing thepresent invention, is shown comprising a substantially tubular housing62 containing a valvebody 63 constituting a transverse partition,dividing housing 62 into an upper chamber 64 and a lower chamber 65. Apassageway 66 through valve body 63 connects upper chamber 64 with lowerchamber 65, a valve, such as a poppet valve 67, being located freelylongitudinally movable in passageway 66, head 68 of poppet valve 67being adapted to close off passageway 66 against ingress of fluid fromupper chamber 64, upon head 68 being biased towards upper surface 69 ofvalve body 63.

Body portion of valve 67 is of a finned construction as shown in FIG.10, consisting of a plurality of radial fins 70, providing fluid flowpassageways 71 therebetween, transverse perforations 72'providing extracommunication between passageways 71. Valve 67 extends downwards into a,lug 73, supplied with transverse pin means 74 engaging in elongated slot75 located in one end 76 of a lever 77, pivoted centrally by pin means78 attached to lug 79 located in lower surface 80 of valve body 63.

Opposite end 81 of lever 77 is, through link means 82, lnngeablyconnected to lug 83 located substantially toward one side of upper end84of a bouyant fioat 85 having fluid pasageways 86, located therearoundconnecting the portion of lower chamber 65, located above float 85 gsiththe portion of lower chamber 65 located below float A straight lineconnecting hingeable attachment point 87 of lower end of link 82 withpivot location '78 of lever 77, is at all times situated betweenpassageway 66 and hingeable attachment point 88 of link 82 to end 81 oflever77; V i

It will therefore be seen that any movement of float 85 towards valvebody ,63 willalways bias valve 67 to a closed position, whereas movementof float 85 away from valve body 63 will always bias valve 67 to openposition.

Pin 74 may be extended to a length greater than the diameter ofpassageway 66, thereby providing stop means for valve 67, limitingopening movementof valve 67 to a position where pin 74 abuts lowersurface of valve body 63, perforation 89 being locatedbelow valve body63 in chamber 65 to permit admission of atmospheric air to chamber 65for evacuation of fluid therein, upon valve 67 becoming closed.

Holes 89 may also be utilized for assembly of float and lever 77 withvalve67 by locating holes89 in suitable 1' positions to facilitateinsertion of pins 78 and 74 during such assembly.

It will readily be seen that the present invention provides considerablesecurity against fire hazards in, for instance, filling fuel in a fueltank of an outboard motor and the like, through facilitation of fillingsuch fuel tanks to an invisible predetermined internal level withoutspilling of fuel over the top of such fuel tanks and on to the engine,spark plugs or the like.

The present invention further provides saving in time previously wastedin mopping up and cleaning 01f fuel or other fluids, occasioned byutilization of conventional funnels or filling hoses, at the same timeproviding saving of cost of such spilled fuel. In the case of fillingbottles from a barrel, a considerable saving in labour is accomplishedby not requiring the operator to watch the filling operation to preventoverfilling and thereby overflow of fluid.

Two methods of incorporating the present invention in fuel filling meanshave been illustrated but I anticipate a wish to cover variations fromthe above while still remaining within the scope and principle of myinvention without prejudicing the novelty thereof.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An automatic valve for use within a funnel, whereby fluid pouredthrough said funnel will be automatically stopped flowing upon apredetermined level being reached, and comprising: a tubular housing: avalve body within said housing substantially midway between the endsthereof to define an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said valve bodyalso defining a passageway therethrough; a poppet valve including a headportion slidably positioned in said passageway; a plurality of radialfins projecting from said poppet valve to be in slidable contact withthe sides of said passageway, said fins thus providing a plurality offluid flow passageways thereabout; a lever pivotally supported belowsaid valve body and having one end in operable engagement with saidpoppet valve; a float slidably positioned within said lower chamber; aplurality of knobs projecting from said float in slidable contact withthe sides of said lower chamber said knobs thus providing a plurality offluid passageways thereabout; and link means operably connecting saidfloat to the other end of said lever, whereby upon said float beingbuoyed up by said liquid, said poppet valve will be moved to a closedposition, thereby to stop the fiow of said liquid through said valve.

2. An automatic valve for use within a funnel, whereby fluid pouredthrough said funnel will be automatically stopped flowing upon apredetermined level being reached, and comprising: a tubular housing; avalve body within said housing substantially midway between the endsthereof to define an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said valve bodyalso defining a passageway therethrough; a poppet valve including a headportion slidably positioned in said passageway; a plurality of radialfins projecting from said poppet valve to be in slidable contact withthe sides of said passageway, said fins thus providing a plurality offluid flow passageways thereabout; a lever pivotally supported belowsaid valve body and having one end in operable engagement with saidpoppet valve; a float slidably positioned within said lower chamber; aplurality of knobs projecting from said float in slidable contact withthe sides of said lower chamber, said knobs thus providing a pluralityof fluid passageways thereabout; link means operably connecting saidfloat to the other end of said lever, whereby upon said float beingbuoyed up by said liquid, said poppet valve will be moved to a closedposition, thereby to stop the flow of said liquid through said valve;and a portion of said housing defining at least one perforationtherethrough immediately below said valve body to prevent entrapment ofsaid fluid within said lower chamber upon said funnel being withdrawnfrom said poured fluid.

3. An automatic valve for use within a funnel, whereby fluid pouredthrough said funnel will be automatically stopped flowing upon apredetermined level being reached, and comprising: a tubular housing, avalve body within said housing substantially midway between the endsthereof to define an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said valve bodyalso defining a passageway therethrough; a poppet valve including a headportion slidably positioned in said passageway; a plurality of radialfins projecting from said popet valve to be in slidable contact with thesides of said passageway, said fins thus providing a plurality of fluidflow passageways thereabout; portions of said fins defining transverseperforations therethrough, thereby to improve flow of said fluid throughsaid passageway; a lever pivotally supported below said valve body andhaving one end in operable engagement with said poppet valve; a floatslidably positioned within said lower chamber; a plurality of knobsprojecting from said float in slidable contact with the sides of saidlower chamber, said knobs thus providing a plurality of fluidpassageways thereabout; link means operably connecting said float to theother end of said lever, whereby upon said float being buoyed up by saidliquid, said poppet valve will be moved to a closed position, thereby tostop the flow of said liquid through said valve; and a portion of saidhousing defining at least one perforation therethrough immediately belowsaid valve body to prevent entrapment of said fluid within said lowerchamber upon said funnel being withdrawn from said poured fluid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,052,111 2/13Weld 14l--199 1,055,534 3/13 Hogue 141-200 1,062,167 5/13 Kott Q 141-200X 1,275,565 8/18 Junek 141200 1,312,531 8/19 Garbisch 141199 1,689,06610/28 Baxter 141-205 X LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

1. AN AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR USE WITHIN A FUNNEL, WHEREBY FLUID POUREDTHROUGH SAID FUNNEL WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY STOPPED FLOWING UPON APREDETERMINED LEVEL BEING REACHED, AND COMPRISING: A TUBULAR HOUSING: AVALVE BODY WITHIN SAID HOUSING SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE ENDSTHEREOF TO DEFINE AN UPPER CHAMBER AND A LOWER CHAMBER, SAID VALVE BODYALSO DEFINING A PASSAGEWAY THERETHROUGH; A POPPET VALVE INCLUDING A HEADPORTION SLIDABLY POSITIONED IN SAID PASSAGEWAY; A PLURALITY OF RADIALFINS PROJECTING FROM SAID POPPET VALVE TO BE IN SLIDABLE CONTACT WITHTHE SIDES OF SAID PASSAGEWAY, SAID FINS THUS PROVIDING A PLURALITY OFFLUID FLOW PASSAGEWAYS THEREABOUT; A LEVER PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BELOWSAID VALVE BODY AND HAVING ONE END IN OPERABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAIDPOPPET VALVE; A FLOAT SLIDABLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID LOWER CHAMBER; A